Thursday, March 12, 2026
From Displacement to Determination: Neema Rebuilds Her Life Through Savings
In Mabalako, a small loan of about 105 US dollars from a Village Savings and Loan Association helped Neema, a 28-year-old mother displaced by violence, rebuild her life. After fleeing attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces with her husband and five daughters, the family struggled to survive through daily labor. Through the Empower project, implemented by World Vision with support from Irish Aid, Neema joined a savings group where she accessed small loans to start selling vegetables and tomatoes in the local market. The business allowed her to repay the credit, cover her children’s basic needs, and begin building a home with her husband. Neema’s story highlights how community savings groups are strengthening the economic resilience and self-reliance of conflict-affected families in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, offering hope in a region long affected by insecurity and poverty.
